A new triterpenoid saponin, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl subprogenin D (1), together with six known triterpenoids: subprogenin D (2), abrusgenic acid (3), triptotriterpenic acid B (4), abruslactone A (5), abrusogenin (6) and abrusoside C (7) were isolated from the leaves and stems of Abrus precatorius. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of physical and NMR analysis...

In vivo and in vitro sublethal exposure of abrin, glycyrrhizin (active component of Abrus precatorius seed and root), sanguinarine, protopine (Argemone mexicana seed) and oleandrin (Nerium indicum leaf) inhibited the acetylcholinesterase, lactic dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatase activity in the nervous tissue of Lymnaea acuminata. The succinic dehydrogenase activity in the nervous ti...

A non-toxic dose of abrin, (1.25 microg/kg body wt) consecutively for five days in normal mice stimulated specific humoral responses. A noticeable increase was observed in total leucocyte count, lymphocytosis, weights of spleen and thymus, circulating antibody titre, antibody forming cells, bone marrow cellularity and alpha-esterase positive bone marrow cells. The results suggest that abrin can...